Oklahoma County Sheriff’s department calls for phones

The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department is calling for old cell phones. The department is in the midst of a drive to turn thousands of unused phones into devices that could potentially save lives.

Deputy Kelli Brookshire, who oversees the program, said the goal is to collect 2,500 phones by Aug. 1, but they are about 1,500 phones short.

The phones will be altered and given to older Oklahomans or victims of domestic abuse. Brookshire said the phones will be able to dial 911 only and will not be able to receive calls.

"It gives people the opportunity to access emergency services themselves who may not have $90 a month, $100 a month for cell phone service,” she said.

The drive is part of a national effort to ensure everyone has easy access to 911 services. Brookshire said the sheriff’s department has been actively involved in the program for several years.

Once phones are collected, the department sends them to the 911 Cell Phone Bank in Florida, which refurbishes them, pairs them with working chargers and batteries and sends them back to the sheriff to be distributed, she said.

Any type of cell phone is accepted.

"Right now we’re taking phones from back in the stone age all the way up until fairly recent new phones,” Brookshire said.

While analog cell phones stopped working about two years ago, Brookshire said, the phones still can be stripped for parts that can help repair other phones.

With people buying new phones all the time, most cell phone owners have ended up with at least one phone sitting in a junk drawer somewhere, Brookshire said.